Hibiscus plant named ‘RutHib5’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘RutHib5’ is characterized by a combination of compact rounded form with medium vigor, attractive white flowers with a red eye, bicolor, reddish green foliage with pubescence, and good resistance to Alternaria alternata, Cercospora, and  Hibiscus  sawfly.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus.

Cultivar denomination ‘RutHib5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus, botanically know as Hibiscus, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘RutHib5’.

The new Hibiscus ‘RutHib5’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors at a horticulture farm in Watkinsville, Ga. The objective of the Hibiscus breeding is to create new plant cultivars with ornamental leaf distinctions, abundant flowers, and tolerance to insects and pathogens. These and other qualities are enumerated herein.

The new Hibiscus ‘RutHib5’ is a product of a 2016 cross of Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib2’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,853) x Hibiscus grandiflorus (unpatented), the progeny of which (named Hib2015-76) was then backcrossed with the parent Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib2’ to produce the new ‘RutHib5.’ The seedling ‘RutHib5’ was selected in 2017 and has been evaluated through trials at a horticulture farm in Watkinsville, Ga. and West Grove, Pa.

The original plant is still growing at the horticultural farm in Georgia, and asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus ‘RutHib5’ using vegetative terminal cuttings in controlled environment has been continued in West Grove, Pa. since 2017. Observations of the resulting ‘RutHib5’ progeny have shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus ‘RutHib5’ are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Hibiscus cultivar ‘RutHib5’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, water and fertility levels, soil types, and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique and distinguishing characteristics of the new Hibiscus cultivar named ‘RutHib5’. In combination, these traits set ‘RutHib5’ apart from all other existing varieties of Hibiscus known to the inventors.

-   -   1. compact rounded form with medium vigor;     -   2. attractive white flowers with a red eyespot and veins (H.         grandiflorus has no eyespot);     -   3. bicolor, reddish green foliage with pubescence;     -   4. good resistance to Alternaria alternata, Cercospora, and         intermediate resistance to Hibiscus sawfly (Atomacera depcepta),         which is lacking in H. moscheutos ‘Summer Storm’.

Specifically, plants of the new Hibiscus differ from the closest related cultivars, including the unpatented female parent H. moscheutos Hib2015-76, the male parent H. moscheutos ‘RutHib2’, and the grandparent Hibiscus grandiflorus in at least the following characteristics:

TABLE 1 Height × Abaxial Petiole and vein width (cm) pubescence color ‘RutHib2’*  75 × 110 none Red H. grandiflorus 130 × 150 dense Green ‘RutHib5’*  90 × 110 moderate Red H. moscheutos 105 × 130 none Red ‘Summer Storm’ Data: May 26, 2021 Watkinsville, GA. Flowering Jun. 26, 2021*

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographic illustrations show the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar of Hibiscus ‘RutHib5’ showing the colors as true as possible. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describes the colors of the new Hibiscus ‘RutHib5’. The photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in West Grove, Pa. around August 2020.

The photographs labeled FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B depict close up views of a typical flower of the new Hibiscus ‘RutHib5’ plant in different lighting, showing the large white blooms, vibrant reddish-deep pink eyespots, and green foliage.

The photograph labeled FIG. 2 depicts a more distant view of a typical 3-year-old summer ‘RutHib5’ plant growing alongside other Hibiscus plants of different form and color, illustrating the large, white flowers of the ‘RutHib5’ cultivar with deep reddish-pink eyespots and generally compact form.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a typical 2-year-old Hibiscus ‘RutHib5’ potted plant showing its form and flowers.

FIG. 4 is a close up photograph of a flower and leaf of the “RutHib5’ photograph with a ruler to show the size, shape, and coloring of a typical flower and leaf of the new Hibiscus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following traits have been consistently observed in the original plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated progeny grown from vegetative cuttings in Watkinsville, Ga., and West Grove, Pa., and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety ‘RutHib5’.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 6^(th) edition published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England in 2015, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements, and values describe plants of the Hibiscus cultivar named ‘RutHib5’. Data were collected from 2-year old field plants grown outdoors and planted in the ground on a horticulture farm and nursery in West Grove, Pa. with no trims. The average low temperatures ranged from about 0° F. to 5° F. in the winter and about 48° F. to 84° F. in summer. The data below were collected in the month of August of 2020.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus ‘RutHib5’. -   Commercial classification: Ornamental shrub. -   Parentage: [Hibiscus moscheutos ‘RutHib2’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.     30,853) x Hibiscus grandiflorus (unpatented)=Hib2015-76] x Hibiscus     moscheutos ‘RutHib2’. -   Growth and propagation:     -   -   Propagation type.—Vegetative terminal cutting.         -   Growth rate.—Root initiation two weeks, rooted cuttings in             4-6 weeks if taken before flowering, root-zone temperature             of 65-75F.         -   Root description.—Fleshy and dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Hardy herbaceous shrub, with white flowers having             vivid fuchsia centers, blooms from July to November in             Southeastern, Pa. and is in full bloom in June and July in             GA.         -   Habit.—Upright, spreading, mounding, with 12 to 15 thick             upright and heavily branched main stems producing a upright             spreading mound to about 101.6 cm tall and about 121.5 cm             wide, widest about 90 cm above soil line; 8 to 10 primary             branches per main stem protruding at about 80° from             horizontal for lowest branches to about 45° angle from             horizontal for distal branches, flowering from base to top             of plant with about 40 to 48 flowers per main stem.         -   Usage.—Various uses, such as container patio plants, potted             plants, landscape use such as border, hedge, and mass             planting.         -   Vigor.—Intermediate.         -   Size of plant.—A. Height: About 101.6 cm. B. Plant diameter             and area of spread (diameter of the canopy): About 121.5 cm.         -   Stem.—A. Color (RHS): 1. Main Stem: Base 143D; distal             portion: between RHS 183D and RHS 186A. 2. Lateral Branches:             Nearest RHS 183D. B. Length: main stem, average about 89.0             cm tall, up to about 100 cm tall; lateral branches, about             31.2 cm. C. Diameter: base, about 18 mm-2.3 cm; lateral             branches, about 7.0 mm. D. Pubescence: none; glabrous. E.             Shape: Terete. F: Odor (of bruised stem): none. G:             Description: glaucous. H: Strength: non-lodging.         -   Internode.—A. Number: about 12 nodes pers stem below             flowers, average internode length about 3.5 cm of unpinched             plant below flower and average about 2.5 cm in upper             flowering section without branches, largest in middle             portion of stem. B. Color: between RHS 183D and RHS 186A.         -   Leaf.—A. Mature size (L×W): About 14.0 cm to about 16.0 cm             long×about 13.0 cm to about 16.0 cm across, becoming smaller             distally. B. Arrangement on stem: alternate. C. Leaf number:             single. D. Color (RHS): Adaxial color nearest to 147A with             blotches of 183D; abaxial color between 148B and 194A. E.             Apex: attenuate Base: rounded. F. Margin: dentate. G. Shape:             lobed, lobes are shallow to deeply cleft, depending on the             leaf. H. Number of lobes: mostly three-lobed with some             five-lobed. I. Pubescence: adaxial — occasional, abaxial —             moderate. J. Venation: Palmate; lustrous; ridged on             abaxial. K. Vein color: Adaxial proximally nearest RHS 183A;             abaxial between RHS 186B and 34D. L. Texture: glabrous,             lustrous adaxial center, dull adaxial sides and below. M.             Odor when crushed: none detected.         -   Petiole.—A. Length: about 6.5 cm. B. Shape: mostly terete,             slightly flattened at base. C. Color (RHS): Adaxial between             RHS 176B and RHS 166A; abaxial between RHS 146D and 147C. D.             Pubescence: glaucous. E. Diameter: about 4.0 mm. F. Texture:             glabrous.         -   Inflorescence(s).—A. Type: axillary, single. B. Number per             Plant: about 10 blooms average/plant at one time. C. Size             (L×W): about 21 cm×21 cm. D. Color (RHS): RHS 49D with red             glossy eyespot RHS 59A. E. Longevity: 1-2 days. F.             Peduncle. 1. Length: about 3.0-9.0 cm. 2. Diameter: about             4.0 mm. 3. Color (RHS): upper peduncle 143C; lower peduncle             59A. 4. Surface Texture: smooth. 5. Strength: strong. 6.             Aspect: 45 degrees.         -   Flower.—A. Number per Inflorescence: about 3-5 per stem in a             cluster with blooms opening one at a time. B. Axillary or             Terminal: axillary. C. Symmetry: radial. D. Size: height,             about 7.0 cm; diameter, about 21.0 cm. E.             Pubescence/Texture: glabrous. F. Flower form/profile: form             is large, whirled, and conspicuous; profile is flat with             protruding reproductive parts. G. Color at peak bloom             (RHS): 1. Upper surface: 49D with 59A glossy eye. 2. Lower             surface: 49D. H. Fragrance: none detected. I. Duration:             approximately 2 days on the plant. J. Time range for             showiness: blooms from July to November in Southeastern,             Pa. K. Bud: 1. Color (RHS): 185A when opening. 2. Shape:             ovoid. 3. Length: about 5.5 cm. 4. Width: about 3.3 cm. L.             Petals: 1. Number: 5. 2. Shape: Broadly obovate, overlapping             on either side, palmately veined. 3. Size (l×w): about 10.5             cm×about 11.0 cm. 4. Apex: rounded. 5. Base: cuneate. 6.             Margin: entire. 7. Color at when first and fully opened             (RHS): i. Upper surface: 49D with 59A glossy eye. ii. Under             surface: 49D. 8. Petal drop: Average. 9. Texture:             smooth. 10. Arrangement: radial, actinomorphic. 11. Eye             zone: present, about 2 cm in length, medium compared to             other varieties. 12. Eye zone extensions: present, about 8             cm long, long compared to other varieties. M. Epicalyx: 1.             Margin: entire. 2. Texture: glabrous, dull surface abaxial             and adaxial. 3. Shape: linear with sharply acute apex and             attenuate base, arcuate upwards near calyx. 4. Number: 10-12             per flower. 5. Size: about 3.2 cm long tapering to base of             about 3.0 mm wide. 6. Color: adaxial and abaxial color             between RHS 144A and 143C with abaxial tinting of nearest             RHS 183C. N. Sepal(s): 1. Number: 5. 2. Size (l×w): about             4.0 cm×about 2.5 cm. 3. Shape: deltoid. 4. Apex: acute to             aristate. 5. Base: fused to a cup shape in about 1.5 cm. 6.             Margin: entire. 7. Texture: under surface puberulent. 8.             Pubescence: moderately stellate. 9. Color at peak of bloom             (RHS): a. Upper surface: 145A. b. Lower surfaces: 144B. O.             Male reproductive structures (stamens): 1. Number:             Approximately 180. 2. Staminal column length: about             5.0-7.0 cm. 3. Anther: a. Size: about 1.0 mm long. b. Shape:             oval. c. Color (RHS): 162D. d. Number: About 180. e.             Texture/pubescence: fleshy, crystalline. 4. Filament: a.             length: about 5.0 mm. b. Color (RHS): 158C. c. Texture:             clear, occasional minute hair. 5. Pollen: a. Quantity:             numerous. b. Pollen color (RHS): 158A. P. Female             Reproductive structures: 1. Pistil: a. Shape: rounded. b.             Size: length, about 5.0 cm; width, about 5.0 mm. c. Position             (superior, inferior, etc.):superior. d. Color (RHS): column             61C to 60B at the end tip. e. Pubescence: few short hairs,             bulbous at base. f. Arrangement: split in distal about 7.0             mm portion into 5 branches from column. g. Branch diameter:             about 1.5 mm. 2. Stigma: a. Shape: round. b. Color (RHS):             160C. c. Diameter: about 3.0 mm. d. Pubescence: none. 3.             Style: a. Length: about 1.8 cm. b. Shape: round. c. Color             (RHS): 158D. d. Pubescence: few short hairs, bulbous at             base. 4. Ovary: a. Shape: conical. b. Color (RHS):187B. c.             Pubescence: none.         -   Fruit.—A. Type: Loculicidal capsule; puberulent; globose,             with abruptly acute apex. B. Size: about 10.0 mm             diameter. C. Depth: about 1.0 cm. D. Shape: Start/Urn             shaped. E. Color: 154C. F. Surface texture: smooth.         -   Seed.—A. Description: Minutely floccose, typically             globose. B. Size: about 4.0 mm in diameter. C. Color (RHS):             between 158B and 158C. D. Count: about 46. -   Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° F. to about 100° F.     and have been observed to be very tolerant to full sun, wet soils,     mild drought, loam to clay soils conditions. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been     observed to be resistant to plants and pests common to Hibiscus,     such as but not limited to Alternaria alternata, Cercospora, and     aerial phytopthora. It also exhibits good to moderate resistance to     Hibiscus sawfly (Atomacera decepta) and intermediate resistance to     bacterial leaf spot (Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas). 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of the Hibiscus plant named ‘RutHib5’ as illustrated and described herein. 